Cinco De Mayo In New York City: Deals, Where to Go, History

NEW YORK, NY – Restaurants and bars around the city are cooking up special as they prepare for a fiesta to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

The day, also called the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, is held on – you guessed it – May 5. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's victory over Napoleon III and his French troops in 1862.

The Battle of Puebla left about 1,000 French soldiers dead. Fighting continued for another half-decade, but the battle fought on May 5 became a symbol of Mexico's "resistance to foreign domination."

Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with parades, speeches and reenactments of the battle in the state of Puebla. However, it is celebrated with much less fanfare elsewhere in the country – it's not even a federal holiday in Mexico – and is often confused by Americans with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16 and was established half a century earlier.

The holiday does means great deals, including endless mimosas at Chevy's Fresh Mex, a free grilled breakfast burrito at Taco Bell and $5 margaritas and Patron shots at TGI Fridays, according to Offers.com. One deal could land you free burritos for an entire year.

Here are just some of the events and deals you can experience in New York City:

Manhattan:

Park Central's Park Lounge Bar (870 Seventh Ave., Manhattan, May 4) at 3 p.m. Learn how to make tequila cocktails with mixologist Jason Bodoy. Tickets are $45 for the event.

Hudson Terrace (621 W. 46th St., Manhattan, May 4) at 2 p.m. Enjoy the Cinco de Mayo event with a two-hour open bar, free tacos, live DJs, games and a plethora of drinking specials. Tickets start at $20.

Hornblow Cruises (Pier 15, 78 South St., Manhattan, May 4) at 9:30 p.m. Bring your Cinco de Mayo celebration to the open seas. Dance all night with music supplied by three different DJs through glowing headphones during the four hour silent disco cruise. Tickets start at $30.

Ghost Donkey (4 Bleecker St., Manhattan, May 5) at 1 p.m. The Mexican-inspired tequila and mezcal bar is turning it up for the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Enjoy a live hip-hop mariachi band, watch a nacho eating contest with professional eaters and take a photo with a live donkey!

Anejo (668 10th Ave., Manhattan, May 5) any time. The high class restaurant is offering a special Cinco de Mayo deal for groups of two. For $85 a person, guests will get a two hour reservation with a signature taco platter, pitcher of margarita and a bucket of 10 Coronas.

Hill Country Barbecue Market (30 W. 26th St., Manhattan, May 6th) at 6 p.m. The Cinco de Mayo fiesta continues at Hill Country with a special taco dinner and documentary viewing party. Guests will enjoy five different tacos and have a question and answer with the creators of the documentary, which will be moderated by food editor Ricky Martinez. Tickets are $65.

The Horny Ram (951 2nd Ave., Manhattan, May 5) any time. Margarita aficionados across NYC rejoice at the restaurant's special Cinco de Mayo offering of $13 margaritas all day, a price that then goes down to $7 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Tijuana Picnic (151 Essex St., Manhattan, May 5-11) at 6 p.m. The party is just beginning on May 5. In honor of Cinco de Mayo the restaurant is spending six days offering $10 house margaritas, $50 taco platters, $60 margarita pitchers and one-hour open bar sessions for $50.

Social Drink & Food at Inside Yotel (570 10th Ave., Manhattan, May 5) at 3 p.m. This Cinco de Mayo celebration is bringing the function to the rooftop. Guests can compete for the Social Drink & Food Cinco de Mayo Kit – a party package that includes a drink ticket and sombrero.

Brooklyn:

'Book of Life' with live mariachi (Nitehawk Cinema, 188 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, May 4) at 10:15 a.m. Before a screening of the film featuring Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Channing Tatum and others, enjoy a performance by Mariachi Estrella Juvenil for the audience.

Fiesta at House of Yes (2 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn, May 5) at 3 p.m. With music by Mickey Perez & Milagro Verde come dressed to dance and appreciate the cross cultural offerings at the House of Yes.

Parklife (636 Degraw St., Brooklyn, May 5) at 3 p.m. Enjoy made from scratch tacos with spices from Mexico that are three for $10 and also help yourself to Parklife's new drink, Tequilia Blossom ($12).

Brooklyn Cider Fest (1100 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn, May 4-5) any time. The Bushwick restaurant is offering a two-day special fiesta for Cinco de Mayo. The cider house will have $2 tacos, guacamole and cider-ritas.

The Bronx:

City Tamale (1316 Oak Point Ave, Bronx, May 5) any time. The critically acclaimed restaurant is offering a special holiday combo. For $10, a customer can get three tacos, one tamale and agua fresca. Additionally, you can buy one Michelada and get a second free.

Mexicocina Ageveria (503 Jackson Ave., The Bronx, May 5) anytime. The restaurant is offering a one day only deal on May 5 where you can get two tacos and a margarita for $16. They will also have $5 shots of tequila and $3 Tecate.

Queens:

Tug of War at La Grigan (63-34 Woodhaven Blvd. Queens, May 1) at 6 p.m. Get an early start on Cinco de Mayo with a tug of war competition to celebrate the people of Puebla, Mexico. Winners get free alcohol and prizes.